Team Leader

The Team Lead will assist the manager with integrating and coordinating the overall activities of the department to achieve corporate goals and objectives. Accountable for the evaluation, selection, and implementation of project requirements which often include developing new techniques and/or incorporating new technologies. Create and maintain effective working relationships with assigned staff, management of key business units, vendors, consultants/contractors, and other operational units within Information Services. Participate in division and unit planning processes. Supervise the development, execution, and maintenance of systems and/or services assigned to the team. Participate in the evaluation, selection and implementation of new techniques and technologies for systems development/maintenance.

** This position is eligible to work hybrid (9 or more days a month onsite) in accordance with our Telecommuting Policy. Applicants must reside in Kansas or Missouri or be willing to relocate as a condition of employment.

Are you ready to make a difference? Choose to work for one of the most trusted companies in Kansas.

Why Join Us?

• Lead and Inspire: Guide and mentor your team to achieve their full potential and success.
• Family Comes First: Total rewards package that promotes the idea of family first for all employees.
• Dynamic Work Environment: Collaborate with a team of passionate and driven individuals.
• Trust: Work for one of the most trusted companies in Kansas
• Stability: 80 years of commitment, compassion and community

Compensation

$125,600 - $157,000

Exempt Grade IT&S 18

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas offers excellent competitive compensation with the goal of retaining and growing talented team members. The salary range for this role is a good faith estimate, it is estimated based on what a successful candidate might be paid.  All offers presented to candidates are carefully reviewed to ensure fair, equitable pay by offering competitive salaries that align with the individual's skills, education, experience, and training. The range may vary above or below the stated amounts.

What you’ll do

• Lead a team of developers to development, execution, and support systems and/or services assigned to the team
• Adapt and integrate appropriate technologies to key projects and systems/services to facilitate the attainment of corporate goals and objectives
• Forecast and allocate resources in order to satisfy client demand for services and appropriately staff projects
• Identify and recommend long-term direction for application/infrastructure systems design
• Understand the needs, impacts, drivers, and requirements of the business areas
• Provide input to the divisional planning activities
• Interview and select employees
• Select and supervise contractor staff, when applicable
• Make salary and promotion recommendations to the manager
• Assist Agile teams in carrying out their responsibilities and adhering to the Agile process for projects
• Ensure project management principles are adhered to (e.g. Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring/Controlling, and Closing)
• Ensure the established change management process is followed
• Creation, communication and supervision of periodic (short- and long-term) staffing, project plans and status reports, for their assigned team(s)
• Substitute for the manager in her/his absence

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Ability to understand, anticipate, and address resource needs in order to meet client demand for services and appropriately staff projects 
• Ability to understand business implications for projects and/or    problems that affect the corporate goals or service level agreements
• Experience in planning and leading projects
• Ability to coach, develop, and motivate team members
• Ability to manage change
• Ability to act as Problem Manager (ITIL)
• Ability to inspire and promote teamwork
• Ability to build good working relationships
• Excellent leadership, team, and collaboration skills
• Understand the capabilities and limitations of infrastructure and architecture alternatives used by BCBSKS
• Detailed knowledge of systems development methodologies
• Understanding of programming languages being used at BCBSKS on varying architectures (Mainframe, Distributed, Web-based)
• Knowledge of current Health Care Industry trends
• Knowledge of data base management concepts and facilities
• Knowledge of security practices and administration procedures used to protect information and technical infrastructures
• Understanding of telecommunications, network, and server technology concepts and facilities
• Knowledge of rules and regulations that govern the corporation (SSAE 16 & SOC, etc.)
• Detailed understanding of Service Level Agreements and Operational Level Agreements
• Knowledge of Agile principles, values, and processes
• Problem Solving - This position requires independent, creative thinking at a level required to resolve a broad spectrum of problems.
  • developing the technical vision to ensure the solution satisfies the business requirement
  • making various technologies work together to form one cohesive system
  • providing overall guidance and participates in application system design
  • Understand the organization's goals and objectives.
  • Recognize emerging trends in Health Care Financing/Administration
  • Recognize emerging trends for system development tools and techniques.
• General Accountability - Accountable for the effective management of activities in support of systems/services that support business client departments and of the projects submitted by those departments. Accountable for the ongoing supervision of assigned personnel

• Approves the system/application architecture and design to ensure they integrate   cleanly into the existing technical and data architecture
• Makes recommendations for technical solutions and provides overall technical guidance and direction for the team
• Researches and selects application development tools and ensures the tools align with the business objective

• Translates/communicates complex technical information into understandable terms appropriate for the audience

• Serves as a visionary and business-to-technical liaison
• Motivates and guides the Lead Developers to push through tough issues and create the solution

What you need

• Education: HS diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor’s Degree is preferred. 
• ITIL Foundations certification is preferred or must be acquired within 12 months of starting this position.  Working knowledge of the technologies being utilized is required.  Project Management certification is preferred.
• Experience:   Requires a minimum of eight years’ experience in Information Technology, preferably in Application Development and/or Infrastructure and at least one year as a Lead Developer or Senior System Administrator or equivalent experience. Must have proven leadership, successful project and resource management skills.

Benefits & Perks

• Base compensation is only one component of your competitive Total Rewards package
  • Incentive pay program (EPIP)
  • Health/Vision/Dental insurance
  • 6 weeks paid parental leave for new mothers and fathers
  • Fertility/Adoption assistance
  • 2 weeks paid caregiver leave
  • 5% 401(k) plan matching
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Health & fitness benefits, discounts and resources

Our Commitment to Connection and Belonging

At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, we are committed to fostering a culture of connection and belonging, where mutual respect is at the foundation of our workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, belief, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military or veteran status, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas conducts pre-employment drug screening, criminal conviction check, employment verifications and education as part of a conditional offer of employment.